#Competition Level: Medium

[atomickidalpaca]

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[greetings-inferiors]

I love smash, but rivals of aether is the best platform fighter I’ve ever played and it’s honestly hardly close

Smash has a larger roster and has triple A quality and that’s IT

Rivals feels better to play, has deeper characters, better universal mechanics, and the single greatest platform fighter character (clairen, don’t @ me (or do))

The only problem is because it’s an old indie game hardly anyone I know plays it, so when I play against others in smash they’re probably not very good at it, so I destroy them, but when I play against others in rivals, they’re probably REALLY good at it, so they destroy me. Either way, someone’s getting destroyed, and that’s not fun.

Turning on items in smash helps alleviate the balance but I can’t have that fun competitive bout that is what I find most enjoyable. If someone does agree to play a competitive ruleset with me, I’m kinda forced to not play my main, because otherwise it’s unfun for both of us, but then what if I want to play sora ;^;

Another thing smash does a lot better is that its CPUs, especially level 9s, are REALLY good, or at least much better than the rivals CPUs. Of my 1000+ battles in smash, probably ~100 is against real people.

And I’m not gonna play online because it’s Nintendo switch online

[rowansender]

Art Communities and TTRPGs

I recently read an article by @toyourstations (which you can read here) about art revolutions, both online and in physical space. It makes the point that art communities online are generally fairly insular, rarely reaching out beyond a small circle of other artists. To combat this, the article argues that you as an artist should find a way to exist in physical space around people who are not in your small group and share your art there. It's a topic that I had been thinking about a lot lately as I've been making a conceited effort to connect more people in the indie ttrpg space and encourage more community amongst artists.

I've noticed a trend that relates to both of these topics. It seems to me that people in the indie ttrpg community online rarely interact with other's works. I see in other art mediums an outpouring of interaction on even the most sophomoric works. Yet amongst ttrpg writers, I see posts of well made projects with little to no interaction or feedback. This is purely subjective and my experience may be skewing my view on the topic but it seems to hold true.

I have a few theories.

This is obviously a fairly small community, but there are at least other artists here that would have opinions about the projects they see. Are people scared to interact; to give criticism, both good or bad? You would think in such a small community of creator/artists that people would be sharing ideas and writing critique.

The most cynical theory is that creators don't want to boost up other projects as they see them as competition. There is a feeling that there is only enough oxygen in the room for one or two projects to exist and you don't want to lift up other projects when it may result in the starvation of your own.

There is also the time investment. It takes time to read and interact with ttrpgs. Playing/testing them is a whole other level of commitment. But there must be some people who at least read or skim projects. Why do they not leave comments. Does it really come down to the size of the community? Are there just not enough people interested in projects outside of their own?

----

I do feel that I need to state that this opinion is not a reflection of my personal project's engagement. I am fairly happy with how they have performed considering my size and reach. This frustration is mostly a product of seeing other projects and artist gain zero traction when I think their projects are worthwhile. This also goes beyond Tumblr as a platform. Obviously there are a million factors that play into this, but I think a community initiative to engage more with smaller works could change the landscape of the ttrpg community online.

[collapsedsquid]

I doubt it was predicted or designed, but when the practice emerged of delegating industrial policy to local governments, China invented a structural form of antitrust. The central state declares what industries are to be favored, and then many localities toss contenders into the ring. The unsurprising result is competition. At the national level, with astonishing speed, industries with world-class competences emerge, even when — especially when — no "national champion" comes to dominate. Great industries are what a nation wants, not great firms. Firms are just the players. They perform extraordinary feats, and we cheer them, but they come and go. The industry is the league. It is what endures and delivers decade after decade. A decade ago China did not produce electric vehicles. Now it is the world leader. It is the same story with batteries, solar panels, steel. In the US, we tend to provide government support to established national champions, Boeing perhaps, or Intel. How is that working for us? Large consolidated firms become specialists in exploiting market power and political influence rather than any technical facet of production. What if we financed state governments to field local heroes and compete in the big leagues? It boggles the American imagination to think that medium-sized, US-state-level enterprises could compete in high-tech, capital-intensive industries. But isn't China's experience an existence proof? Shouldn't the share-buyback-heavy, technical-achievement-light experience of firms like Boeing and Intel chasten our conventional wisdom?

Must do socialism so we have intense competition between the Colorado smartphone and the Massachusetts smartphone

[carionto]

Humans are Loud

Most cultural exchange is done formally through official channels.

No matter how advanced a civilization you are, when meeting a whole new species, they are fundamentally alien to you in ways that need to be handled carefully and introduced to gradually, or you risk creating a bad first impression, or worse - incite conflict over something that is trivial to one side, but a grave taboo to the other.

However, once you have done preliminary work and both sides have emissaries and ambassadors stationed with each other, it becomes easier and more appropriate to learn about one another through unofficial means. Without curation.

And the most effective method, though legally dubious, is to disguise yourself as one of them and go to some places of public gathering.

Kol Rathar, from the bipedal Jorval race, wanted to experience what a day in the life of a regular Human was. So they picked a random population center on the Earth, engaged their personal disguise kit, tucked in some documents that explain who they are and the legality of their actions should they be discovered, and landed in the city of Neljaes-Helsinki.

It's the dead of winter, a bone chilling -1 degrees Celsius, Kol Rathar immediately turns up their life support to max and heads for the nearest public space. They enter what's called a "bar", take a seat, and order a beer. So as to not arouse suspicion, they "drink" the poison like a Human would, but there is a filter between the mouth on the hardlight holographic disguise and Kol Rathar's that detoxifies the alcohol and turns it into potable water. It still reeks and is hard to swallow, but it won't kill them.

They engage in general banter with some other patrons - Humans tend to dislike quiet in public spaces and often find it odd or unnerving. Universal topics like the weather, traffic, Mondays (most civilizations have an equivalent), and how everything is more expensive again (also a common occurrence across the Galaxy).

Then one of the patrons shouts to "Turn it up!" and the bartender raises the volume of the broadcast receiver to where Kol Rathar almost jumped from the shock, but thankfully the noise suppression kicked in just in time. it displayed a competitive engagement between two teams of Humans in heavily padded suits and helmets, wielding curved sticks and trying to push a small black object into the opposing net.

It did not take long for an act of violence to happen. One participant slammed their gloved fists into another, they retaliated, then a third assaulted the first, another three came out of nowhere and in seconds it was an incoherent pile of bodies slamming into each other, helmets flying off, the safety barriers were constantly vibrating, and it took a whole minute before the referees could dismantle the armageddon.

Kol Rathar thought this was the end of the game, something had gone horribly wrong, but before they could think further, they noticed everyone else in the bar was acting normal, most were looking at the altercation, but their behavior seemed... normal. Like this act of violence was common, expected even. Kol Rathar decided to maintain their cover and continue observing. They still couldn't believe that the competition was resuming after that.

Several minutes passed without another incident, the players of this "hockey" game were all very agile and adept at manipulating the small puck with their hockey sticks. WHILE SKATING ON ICE WITH THIN PIECES OF METAL ON THEIR FEET!

Kol Rathar had not even registered that fact earlier due to the "excitement" and was now awed by the sheer level of mastery and multitasking these players displayed.

Then one team finally scored a goal and Kol Rathar lost consciousness.

When they came to, they were in a hospital bed of the local Coalition embassy building being treated for shock and residual toxin exposure. The dense Human atmosphere saturated with bar patron activities will eventually overwhelm most low to medium threshold filtration systems that disguise kits come standard with.

The medic explained that there are very valid reasons for the strict requirements of Aliens visiting Human environments, and it's not a result of bureaucratic meddling over millennia as is with some other Coalition members. Nobody wants to read five hundred pages of anything, they get that, but Kol Rathar was lucky the Humans at the bar had mostly only recently arrived for the game and were not as intoxicated as they became after they were taken by the ER.

Kol Rathar's experience has been added to the guide for visiting Humans, which has recently been renamed to:

"Don't, but if you have to READ EVERYTHING HERE. There's an embedded audio book too. We know it's thirty hours long, but you will DIE if you don't listen to us!"

[jaybug-jabbers]

Gelatopod - Ice/Fairy

(Vanilla-Caramel Flavor is normal, Mint-Choco is shiny)

Artist - I adopted this wonderful fakemon from xeeble! So I decided to make up a full list of game data, moves, lore, etc. for it. Enjoy! :D

Abilities - Sticky Hold/Ice Body/Weak Armor (Hidden)

Pokedex Entries

Scarlet: Gelatopod leaves behind a sticky trail when it moves. A rich, creamy ice cream can be made from the collected slime.

Violet: At night, it uses the spike on its shell to dig into the ground, anchoring itself into place. Then it withdraws into its shell to sleep in safety.

Stats & Moves

BST - 485

HP - 73

Attack - 56

Defense - 100

Special Attack - 90

Special Defense - 126

Speed - 40

Learnset

Lvl 1: Sweet Scent, Sweet Kiss, Aromatherapy, Disarming Voice

Lvl 4: Defense Curl

Lvl 8: Baby Doll Eyes

Lvl 12: Draining Kiss

Lvl 16: Ice Ball

Lvl 21: Covet

Lvl 24: Icy Wind

Lvl 28: Sticky Web

Lvl 32: Dazzling Gleam

Lvl 36: Snowscape

Lvl 40: Ice Beam

Lvl 44: Misty Terrain

Lvl 48: Moonblast

Lvl 52: Shell Smash

Friendship Level Raised to 160: Love Dart (Signature Move)

Egg Moves

Mirror Coat, Acid Armor, Fake Tears, Aurora Veil

Signature Move - Love Dart

Learned when Gelatopod's friendship level reaches 160 and then the player completes a battle with it

Type - Fairy, Physical, Non-Contact

Damage Power - 20 PP - 10 (max 16) Accuracy - 75%

Secondary Effect - Causes Infatuation in both male and female pokemon. Infatuation ends in 1-4 turns.

Flavor Text - The user fires a dart made of hardened slime at the target. Foes of both the opposite and same gender will become infatuated with the user.

TM Moves

Take Down, Protect, Facade, Endure, Sleep Talk, Rest, Substitute, Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Helping Hand, Icy Wind, Avalanche, Snowscape, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Charm, Dazzling Gleam, Disarming Voice, Draining Kiss, Misty Terrain, Play Rough, Struggle Bug, U-Turn, Mud Shot, Mud-Slap, Dig, Weather Ball, Bullet Seed, Giga Drain, Power Gem, Tera Blast

Other Game Data

Gender Ratio - 50/50

Catch Rate - 75

Egg Groups - Fairy & Amorphous

Hatch Time - 20 Cycles

Height/Weight - 1'0''/1.3 lbs

Base Experience Yield - 170

Leveling Rate - Medium Fast

EV Yield - 2 (Defense & Special Defense)

Body Shape - Serpentine

Pokedex Color - White

Base Friendship - 70

Game Locations - Glaseado Mountain, plus a 3% chance of encountering Gelatopod when the player buys Ice Cream from any of the Ice Cream stands

Notes

I'm not a competitive player, but I did my best to balance this fakemon fairly and not make it too broken. Feel free to give feedback if you have any thoughts!

I have a huge bias for Bug Pokemon since they're my favorite type, and at first I wanted to make it Bug/Ice, since any intervebrate could be tossed into the 'Bug' typing. But ultimately I decided to keep xeeble's original idea of Ice/Fairy. There's precedent of food-themed pokemon being Fairy type, and Ice/Fairy would be very interesting due to its rarity (only Alolan Ninetails has it). Its type weaknesses are also slightly easier to handle than Bug/Ice imo

The signature move is indeed based on real love darts, I could not resist something that fascinating being made into a Pokemon move, even if the real games may possibly shy away from the idea. (Honestly it could be argued "Love Dart" is based on Cupid's arrow so Gamefreak might actually get away with making a move like this though.) Its effectiveness on both males and females is a nod to snails/slugs being biological hermaphrodites. I can see this move also being learned by Gastrodon and Magcargo in Scarlet/Violet

[onionpainter]

just found your blog, I think your paintings are absolutely gorgeous! I've been wondering, what draws you to work with oil paints above other mediums? I've found them very tricky to work with in the past and I'm fascinated by the depth and cleanliness you can bring to them

Hello there, thank you for asking! I’m very glad to hear you enjoy my work :) I have many reasons why I must work in oil, allow me to offer you this numbered list. I am very normal about it.

The art which I have grown up loving and aspiring to make was largely made with oil. It is my strong feeling that if you want to recreate an art style, the easiest way to achieve this is to use the same medium in the same way that the original artist made their work in. All mediums have their own idiosyncrasies and it is far more practical to use the same medium than to try to recreate the effect of one medium through another medium. I learned this the hard way trying to achieve the particular look of paint tool SAI, first through drawings coloured with water based paints, then with clip studio paint. It is better to use the same materials that your chosen art movement used if you want to work accurately in the style. I was asked once why I don’t use watercolour. I don’t use watercolour because I can’t make an oil painting out of it.

They are difficult to gain control over. This seems like a point against them, but let me tell you why this is a point in their favour for me. There was a time in my digital illustration career when I hit a very brutal plateau. I was very bored and I strongly disliked working on my commissions. Digital art had ceased to be particularly hard in terms of program handling, but my drawing skills were weak at the time. I decided I needed something properly difficult, and not having had time or space until that point to work in oil, I took it up again. Being so unpracticed and unskilled, it was very punishing, frustrating, and unrewarding, and by the end of my painting practice I would be begging to return to the relative ease of my digital work. Of course, there is only so long that I can engage with a skill before I fall into a bottomless pit of commitment.

Another point regarding difficulty and maybe more importantly, perceived difficulty. I am a highly competitive person, some might say pathologically. And since oil is often seen as the most difficult medium [although I would say, again, it is the easiest thing to make an oil painting out of] there is then less overall competition within the medium than there is in water based mediums for example. I compare this to another scenario, that of horse training. Why would a horse trainer choose to work with feral, unhandled mustangs, when you can work with a nice horse who has been handled and conditioned from foalhood? One reason is to show very high level horsemanship. If you train a mustang then you really know how to train horses. Technical difficulty can be dealt with, it is only a matter of hundreds of hours of work. Oversaturation of a niche, however, is a much more difficult problem, which is also out of my personal control. I’d rather prove myself against one oil painter than three acrylic painters.

On the topic of perceptions, oil is commonly seen as the most valuable type of painting. I’m not saying that’s a fair perception, just that it exists. Often when people think of “good paintings” the paintings they imagine are typically in oil. I’m sure we’ve all seen particularly dynamic fotografs compared to oil paintings. This has two functions for me, one, that I can make these objects of perceived value, which please and entertain. The second function of them is to legitimize myself as an artist in the eyes of the general public. Digital art is a commonly devalued and little known or cared about art form, even though so much incredible contemporary art is of digital mediums. Unless someone is already involved in digital art communities, it can be difficult for them to relate to it or even imagine what it could be, or how it is made, even though it permeates society. Digital art is seen as low art. On the other hand, the first thing that comes to mind for people when they think of art or “Fine Art” is usually oil paintings. There are significant social advantages to being able to say “I am a painter” versus the awkwardness of having to admit “I am a digital illustrator” with all of the confusion and skepticism that brings. Again, I don’t bring this up in order to champion this line of thinking, I am just saying that this perception exists.

On a technical level, there is something about oil. The textures and handling needs of the different pigments and mediums, and the physical feeling of manipulating all of it is something I cannot do without. My teacher who first introduced me to oil compared it as painting with melted butter against the feeling of painting with glue or toothpaste, which he felt about acrylic paint. This is a matter of opinion, but one I agree with. There are tactile sensations which only exist in oil, and the longer drying time allows for much more mixing on the palette. I would be furious if I spent time mixing a colour only for it to dry and become unusable within the hour.

The dangers involved, both to the art in terms of archival quality, and to myself in terms of poisoning or fire, make this medium into something that demands strict attention. Many of my materials can kill if I do not handle them correctly. To me, this immediate danger brings the specter of death from the shadows and defangs him, transforms an unknown terror into a banal familiar matter. These materials might harm me, but instead they help me and they are my dear familiar companions. My duty is just to honour and steward them well and help them fulfill their purpose, which is to please and entertain.

In terms of my recommendation of this medium to others, I would recommend it if you are the kind of person who can withstand slow progress and who wants to earn something hard. Beginnerhood typically lasts a long time with these materials, unless you are a particularly strong painter in other mediums already and have a good teacher. I wouldn’t know because I am the initially unskilled type. A warning for the initially skilled people reading this: there will come a time in your practice when your initial skills are no longer adequate for the task ahead. I suggest you learn how to work hard before you come to this point so it will be less devastating for you. Enjoy the simple struggles of your beginning, even if it may overall be very boring. Lose yourself within it. The milestones of the intermediate stage are much farther apart than those in the beginner’s fight.

With regards to your comment on cleanliness, first I thank you, that is very kind. I allow myself to work slowly and try to control my impulsivity. Speed will come with time and experience, I am content with a slow and measured process for now.

[badomenslullaby]

Chapter Two

Paring: Noah x Fem reader

Rating: 18+ Minors DNI

MasterList

Tag List: @dominuslunae

“Fuck,” you mutter under your breath as you dash down the side walk, rushing home. It had started to rain an hour ago; what had started as a light sprinkle had quickly turned into a downpour. Your grandmother had dragged you all over town, shopping at small stores, chatting your ear off and anyone else who would listen. This made you way behind schedule, much more than you would’ve liked. It took you five minutes to sprint to your family’s shop and race up the stairs to the apartment, where you ran straight into your room.

Frantically, you tear through your closet, trying to find a cute outfit as fast as possible. With barely a second to think, you settle on a black lace bustier cami top, ripped black skinny jeans, and your trusty pair of Demonia platform boots. You quickly run your hair under the tub faucet to wet it down, working in your usual hair care products before letting it air dry; no time for over-styling today. By the time you’re finally ready, it’s already 7, leaving you no choice but to rush out the door with your umbrella in hand and camera hanging around your neck. Glancing back at your text messages, you see the address is only a five-minute walk away.

Taking a few deep breaths to calm your nerves, you pull out your phone and open your messages. Your fingers hover over the keyboard, hesitating for a moment as you decide what to send.

You: Running a tiny bit behind but speed-walking my way to you.

As you walk, you begin to notice the shift in your surroundings; you're entering one of the fancier neighborhoods. The houses are bigger, spaced farther apart, with perfectly trimmed hedges and manicured lawns. The yards are greener, the air feels quieter, and everything seems just a little too put together. You double-checked the address, slightly confused and worried that you may have put it into the GPS wrong, but to your surprise, you put everything in correctly. 

You feel your phone buzz and see a text from Noah.

Noah 🌟: Noted. I’ll keep the storm clouds distracted till you get here.

You smile to yourself and let out a quiet giggle. A few minutes later, you’re standing in front of a medium-sized lawn and a large two-story house, the steady thump of music pulsing from inside. Your nerves creep back in as you realize that when he said party, he didn’t mean a chill get-together. He meant a full-blown, house-packed kind of party. If it weren’t for the rain, you’re pretty sure the huge backyard, judging by the tall privacy fence, would be just as packed as the inside.

Part of you feels like you need to look this man up, because if he can afford a house this big and throw a party this packed to celebrate an album release, he must be pretty damn good… and have a decently large following. With a deep breath, you make your way up the surprisingly long driveway. Just as you reach the porch, a couple of drunk guys stumble out of the house, accidentally bumping into you on their way down. They mutter a few slurred apologies before disappearing into the rain. You step inside and immediately do a double take. The house feels way bigger on the inside than it looked from the street.

Both levels of the house are packed with people. Metal music blares from speakers; you're guessing it's Noah’s band, and the whole place buzzes with the sounds of laughter, shouting, and clinking drinks. Games are in full swing, and more than a few people are already drinking like it’s a competition. To your right, you spot the kitchen, and there he is. Noah, standing at a beer pong table, laughing with a group of guys as he lines up a shot. Carefully, you start weaving your way through the crowd, gently pushing past clusters of people until you make it to the kitchen.

Excitement bubbles in your chest as you get closer. Finally, you make it to the kitchen, where there’s a little more breathing room than the crowded walkway and living room. You pause for a second, watching Noah as he sinks a shot right into the cup. He throws his hands up with a victorious cheer, and then he sees you. His face lights up instantly, and just like that, the noise around you seems to fade a little. Your face heats up a little, and mentally, you blame it on how warm the room feels. Definitely the room. Noah starts making his way toward you, a grin still on his face. As he reaches you, he opens his arms wide, wordlessly offering a hug.

“Morrigan!” Noah exclaims over the music as he wraps you in a hug.

Your face turns a deeper shade of pink, more than it already was, and you can’t help but catch his scent. Vanilla and sandalwood. And damn, it’s heavenly.

“I’m so glad you made it,” he said, with his breath tickling your ear, causing you to shiver slightly..

“I’m glad I made it too.”

You and Noah look at each other for a moment, something lingering in the air between you, until someone clears their throat behind him. Noah blushes slightly and turns toward the interruption.

“Right, sorry,” he says with a sheepish smile. “Morrigan, I want you to meet the rest of the band. The guys are cool, I promise.”

With a small laugh, you look over at the group of guys. Noah points to the shorter one out of all of them.

“This animal is Nick,” Noah says with a grin. “He’s our drummer and the sickest one you’ll ever have the pleasure of witnessing.”

Nick gives you a friendly wave, then immediately focuses on the game, launching a ping-pong ball toward a cup… and missing entirely. Noah points to the guy next to Nick, who’s laughing and talking shit while making Nick chug from a red Solo cup.

“This here is Jolly,” Noah says. “He’s a badass on the guitar and will blow you away with the riffs he comes up with. He also has a funny accent, he’s from Sweden.”

Noah playfully mimics the accent at the end, earning a light smack on the shoulder from Jolly. Noah then motions towards a guy with long black hair and a Star Wars shirt who is at the other end of the table, playing against Jolly and Nick. 

“This here is Nicholas, our bassist. I know the whole two Nick things get kinda confusing sometimes, but you can just call him Nicky like I do-” Before he can finish his sentence, Nicholas throws a ping-pong ball at him.

“Only Noah can call me that, and even that’s pushing it,” Nicholas says with a small laugh. 

He walks over to you and holds out his hand.

“You can just call me Nick,” he says with a warm smile.

You shake his hand, letting out a small laugh.

“I’ll call you Nick #2, how’s that?”

Nicholas laughs and nods.

“That’s fine with me. Anything’s better than Nicky,” he says before heading back to the table.

Noah leans in a little closer and smiles.

“We’ve known each other since I was sixteen and he was eighteen, so he lets me slide with the embarrassing names… sometimes,” he adds with a small chuckle.

Noah nodded toward a guy with long brown hair and a Lord of the Rings shirt standing next to Nicholas with a drink in hand.

“That asshole over there is Matt,” he says with a smirk. “He’s our lovely manager.”

Matt looks over and flips Noah off.

“I heard that!” he calls out with a laugh.

“Good, that was the point,” Noah fires back, flipping him off in return with a grin.

Noah turns his attention back to you, and his smile softens slightly. 

“I see you brought your camera,” he stated. You eagerly nod at him.

“Yeah, I wanted to take some pictures since we are celebrating. I thought it would be a cool gift for you and show some support,” you say bashfully. 

You notice that Noah’s cheeks look a little flushed, but you figure it’s probably from the drinking. Lifting your camera, you smile wide.

“Smile,” you say, already aiming the lens at him.

Noah meets your eyes, his flushed cheeks deepening just a little more as he smiles, genuine and soft, the kind of smile that reaches his eyes. You snap the photo, catching him in that perfect moment: rosy-cheeked, a little tipsy, and completely unguarded. You giggle to yourself as you glance down at the picture.

“Perfect,” you say, turning the camera to show him.

When you show him the picture, his smile softens, and without warning, he gently takes the camera from around your neck. Lifting it up, he aims it at the two of you, pulling you close to him. Your head naturally rests against his shoulder, and suddenly, you're enveloped in his scent, amber and sandalwood blending effortlessly with your own mix of vanilla and light citrus.

It’s warm and familiar. It’s nice.

He snaps the picture and immediately checks the screen. You watch as his smile grows, soft and genuine, before he turns it to show you. Both of you have a sparkle in your eyes and matching pink cheeks. It’s sweet, unposed, and effortlessly you. A photo you know you’ll definitely cherish.

“Perfect,” he mumbles, still looking at the photo like it’s something rare. Your eyes flick up to him, your heart skipping just a little. But then you feel eyes on you. Glancing over, you notice that even though they’re still technically playing beer pong, the rest of the band is watching you and Noah with smirks and smiles. You straighten up, cheeks warming, and gently take the camera back from Noah.

“Thanks,” you murmur, tucking the strap back around your neck.

“We’re gonna play some of the songs live tonight, around ten,” Noah says, rubbing the back of his neck. “You sticking around for that?”

“Yeah,” you reply with a smile. “I’d love to get some pictures of that.”

He smiles at your response and gives you a light nod.

“So, what’s the album we’re celebrating tonight?” you ask, genuinely curious.

“Finding God Before God Finds Me,” he says proudly, the title rolling off his tongue effortlessly.

“Well, I’m excited to hear your sound,” you say with a smile. “And to see you guys in your element.”

Noah’s grin widens, and for a moment, he looks genuinely touched. You glance at your phone: 8 o’clock. Your eyes drift to the kitchen counters, lined with bottles of alcohol.

“Want a drink? I can make you one,” Noah offers with a raised brow.

You nod, scanning the options laid out in front of you.

“As long as it tastes sweet, I’ll drink anything,” you say with a light laugh.

Noah nods with a small laugh and gets to work. You watch as he pours some of the Jungle Juice into your cup, then tops it off with a little more fruit punch to dilute the taste.

“Hope this is sweet enough,” he says with a wink.

You give him a calm smile as you grab your cup, but inside, you scream and melt at his wink. Can a guy get any more attractive? You take a sip, and your eye only twitches slightly. Noah bursts out laughing. 

“Was that the ‘it’s sweet but still kinda deadly’ twitch?”

You grin through it. 

“Maybe.”

You take another small sip, raising a brow at him.

“I think you’re trying to get me tipsy,” you tease.

Noah leans in just slightly, his voice low enough for only you to hear over the music.

“Maybe... but only so I can still seem cool once you realize what a big dork I am.”

You let out a soft laugh, your cheeks warming all over again.

Before the moment can stretch too long, one of the guys calls his name, and he gives your shoulder a gentle nudge.

“I’ll be back. Game’s not gonna win itself.”

You watch him rejoin the group at the beer pong table, a smile still lingering on your lips as you lift your camera and start snapping pictures. Over the next couple of hours, you manage to capture everything, from winning shots at beer pong to Folio attempting a keg stand. When you glance at your watch, you realize it’s almost time for the boys to hit the stage for their set, and a fresh wave of excitement bubbles up inside you.

As the clock strikes 10, the boys make their way down to the basement, the crowd trailing behind them in a wave of excitement. You manage to weave your way through, pushing yourself to the front just in time to catch sight of the small stage they’ve set up in the spacious basement.

“I would just like to thank you all for coming here tonight to celebrate our album,” Noah says into the mic. 

You find yourself staring, slightly mesmerized, as you watch him tuck his shoulder-length hair behind his ears. The simple gesture somehow makes your heart skip. Around you, the crowd erupts into cheers, the energy buzzing with excitement and pure contentment.

“Before we start, I wanna introduce a friend of mine,” Noah said before pulling you up on stage. 

Your face goes red. You were never one who did well when the spotlight was on you. Yeah, you love doing art and showing off your photography, but you always did that behind the scenes. Never really showing your face, just submitting them in contests and local art shows and then walking around like you weren’t the creator. 

“This is my friend Morrigan!” Noah’s voice carries over the mic, drawing a few curious glances your way. “She’s a local photographer, and she’ll be snapping some shots of the performance tonight. So do me a favor, give her the space she needs. And when you start moshing,” he adds with a playful grin, “try not to knock her over or break her, yeah?”

A few people chuckle and nod, while others glance your way with welcoming smiles. You can’t help the warmth that spreads through your chest. Offering a small, slightly awkward wave in thanks, you step down from the stage and make your way back to your spot at the front, camera ready in hand.

“Alright, motherfuckers, let’s get this show started!” Noah shouts into the mic, his voice cutting through the air.

The first song they launched into was Limits. The room exploded with energy, bodies crashing into each other in the pit, heads banging in sync with the beat. You raised your camera, capturing shot after shot of the chaos, freezing the raw energy in perfect frames. Next, they shifted into Burning Out; the pace slowed slightly, but the intensity never wavered. You’d heard this one playing over the speakers earlier, and now, hearing it live, it cemented itself as your favorite. Its beauty was undeniable and powerful. As Noah’s voice poured into the chorus, you lifted your camera once more, catching a string of photos, each one somehow more stunning than the last.

Noah mentioned that the next songs were from their debut album, released back in 2016, before launching into Malice and Hedonist. Each scream he let out was more powerful than the last, raw emotion pouring from every note. You found yourself completely captivated, not just by his presence on stage, but by his voice. The control, the intensity, the passion behind every lyric had you hooked in a way that no photo could ever fully capture.

“Alright, motherfuckers!” Noah yells, pacing back and forth across the stage, his voice dripping with intensity. “This one’s called Dethrone!”

As the guitar riffs kicked in, you could feel the entire room shift. The air grew heavier, and you instinctively took a deep breath, bracing yourself. Noah let out a guttural scream, and all hell broke loose. The crowd surged forward, bodies shoving to get as close to the stage as possible while pockets of mosh pits erupted in different corners of the basement.

But as the first verse started, the excitement twisting in your chest began to turn sharp. The room felt like it was closing in, the walls pressing closer with every pulse of the music. Your heartbeat quickened, no longer matching the rhythm of the song. Panic started to creep in; you needed to find an exit, fast. You look at Noah, but he is too far into the song, so he isn’t paying attention to you. With a deep breath, you began pushing your way through the dense crowd, desperate to reach the stairs. The air felt thick, like trying to breathe through honey, each inhale growing harder, each step more unsteady.

Every time you tried to move straight back, another wave of bodies shoved into you, knocking you off course and making it almost impossible to find your way out. Suddenly, someone bumps into you hard, sending you crashing into one of the basement’s support pillars. Pain shot through your head the moment it made contact, and your vision blurred as a sharp, pulsing migraine bloomed behind your eyes. The room started to spin, the music warping and stretching like it was underwater.

You stumble as you finally reach the stairs, your legs barely holding you up. But as you climb the first step, your foot catches, sending you sprawling forward, right onto your camera. A sharp crack rings out beneath you, but you can’t bring yourself to care. Your hands and knees tremble as you crawl up the stairs, moving slow and unsteady like a wounded animal searching for shelter. Every inch feels heavier than the last.

When you finally reach the landing, you haul yourself upright, using the wall for support, and stagger into the kitchen. The upstairs was still crowded but nowhere near the crush of bodies from the basement. You push off the counters and walls, half-blind, half-aware, guiding yourself through the living room and toward the staircase to the second floor.

Once you reach the hallway, you fumble for the nearest door, the first one on the left. The knob turns, and you slip inside, the room cloaked in darkness. But the scent hits you immediately: sandalwood and amber. Comforting. Familiar. Your body gives out as you collapse onto the bed, sinking into the sheets, and finally, mercifully, you let go. The world fades as unconsciousness swallows you whole.

[ode-to-arecibo]

Drakes, our first species and the most influential.

Info below the cut

Homeworld: Cradle, (or Birthplace, depending on the translation) a large, dense planet orbiting an F class star about 60000 light years from earth. Cradle is best known for being a weird planet with a whole lot going on. The atmosphere is thick and high in oxygen, to the point that humans and most other species die of oxygen poisoning. Also the atmosphere is often full of smoke and ash. Volcanism is extremely prevalent, and drake culture often takes note of ashseasons and clearseasons, in addition to summer and winter. The volcanoes erupt somewhat regularly and everything on the planet is adapted for it. The plants expect the occasional volcanic winter, and almost enjoy it, it's a nice break from the incredibly hot and full of UV light of summer. To deal with the extreme shifts in light the plants on Cradle change color from white in clearseason and summer to black when light is scarce. The tropics are white here and temperate regions black before snow appears. It's technically the Empire capital, but in practice any multi-species legislation happens at the wormhole hub since Cradle is just an awful place to live if you aren't a drake. The star is also going to start dying and making Cradle uninhabitable in a couple hundred million years. Uninhabited and not pictured, the continent with all the volcanoes. Most of them are on the other side of the planet.

Reproduction: penis fencing! kind of. No traumatic insemination here. Drakes are monoecious, everyone making sperm and eggs and having only one sex. Sex is not exactly ranked but definitely competitive. Whoever impregnates the other wins.

A couple cultures eat eggs or babies. Everyone else thinks this is a little silly and inefficient but not immoral. Accidental babies get eaten pretty frequently.

Drakes take no ill effects from smoke inhalation, having evolved lungs specifically to tolerate volcanic ash and smoke. They require sulphur supplements when living away from the homeworld. They're not That good at filtering smoke though. Cigarettes are fine, but there's a reason no one lives on the Volcano Continent.

Young drakes fulfil a very different role in the ecosystem than adults. Adults were, before civilization, something like a jaguar, a medium-large rainforest ambush predator. Infants meanwhile eat bugs, and up until around racoon size, they keep down the space rat population. Drakes never domesticated any pest control animal like cats because they just use their kids for that.

Their blood oxygen carrier is hemoglobin, but not much of it. Drake blood tends to look quite yellow like human blood plasma. Sometimes they'll take hemoglobin supplements to breathe more easily in normal oxygen levels like earth and mixed species ships, which makes it looks more red. (By hemoglobin I mean probably myoglobin or something the point is it's heme based and remarkably similar to the human one)

Lifespan: about 80 earth years. (equivalent to 100 for humans. Still impressive to live that long, but occasionally happens.) Average age of death: 12, including massive infant mortality. Infant mortality is lower than for humans in societies that actually take care of them, but the dominant culture just makes tons of babies and starts to raise them once they've proven they can survive their first year alone.

Drakes have three "genders." Gender isn't really the right word, but they kind of look the same to an uneducated human and most drakes don't mind. It's just a societal role related to prestige and age. Cultivator, orbiter and pioneer. (Direct translations. I really should rename these). Cultivators are cautious, respected, and stay in the village/castle/planetside. Pioneers are reckless, leaving the House, killing it's enemies and not being trusted to make plans. Orbiters leave and return, bringing ideas and goods from distant lands. In the space age "gender" is more vibes based, but traditionalists will still tell you you're wrong about your "gender." Traditionally everyone starts as a pioneer and you have to prove yourself to count as an orbiter or cultivator. About 50% of the population is pioneers, 40% orbiters, 10% cultivators. While living in human territory a lot of drakes will use their "gender" to determine pronouns, he/him for pioneers, they or xe for orbiters, she/her for cultivators, which is where a lot of the confusion and calling it a gender came from. Cultivators also tend to wear more feminine clothing and Pioneers more masculine, except by feminine I mean long dangly things that drakes consider pretty but are easy to grab in combat.

Drakes instinctively assemble themselves into houses. That's not a cultural thing, though the specific way they do it is. Modern houses act like countries or companies, owning land or holding economic monopolies. There are six High Houses, which currently control the military, the media, the tech industry, the biotech industry, the wormholes, and then house Aserekis who does education and banking and mental health crisis support and a lot of the other little things that a government is supposed to do and that the other houses are too busy trying to kill each other to bother with. Houses consist of a group of relatives (Marriage doesn't exist and drakes only mate outside their house), potentially tens of thousands of tangentially related drakes and their vassal houses, who aren't officially part of the house but do a lot of the dirty work. Culturally, the house is considered the highest value. Betraying your house is the worst crime.

Their eye and feather color is determined by the food they eat. Like flamingoes, many of the creatures on Cradle absorb dyes from their food. Drakes use this to determine house allegiance, feeding their kids dyes in the house's colors. Eye color is fixed in their youth, but feather color can be changed by plucking and regrowing feathers. You can always tell if someone got exiled by their eye color being different from their feather color.

[tribbetherium]

The falcyons, once the dominant aerial predators of HP-02017 in the Therocene and Glaciocene, which preyed upon both grounded prey and other flyers, have seen a significant level of decline since the coming of the pterodents, some of which filled large, soaring scavenger, seagoer and migratory forager niches and thus gradually pushed the falcyons aside. Yet the falcyons, despite the competition, are doing quite well even in the Middle Temperocene, thanks to a fairly recent adaptive radiation at the Temperocene's dawn that allowed them to claim new niches and make a living in a changed world.

Some, such as the eastern Gestaltian triathler (Triathlopteryx gestaltis) have become generalists, taking advantage of any food source they can find. Triathlers, in particular, gained particular success thanks to being good runners, flyers, and swimmers all at the same time, allowing them to seek food in the sea, on the shore, or in the air, snatching up any small prey they can grab in their jaws in a wide variety of environments that reduces the pressure of competition. Hunting insects and wingles in the air, shrish and pescopods in the water, and small crustaceans and mollusks on the shore, triathlers such have many options and no shortage of available food should seasonal availabilities of one prey item come and go. Nesting in cliffside rookeries by the hundreds, even thousands, triathlers boast precocial young that can hunt on land within a few weeks, even while still under their parents' care, but still have to learn, through imitation and experience, the skills required for the air and sea.

Not all the falcyons, however, are as versatile, but are much more specialized in one specific medium. The swift airstrike (Velocipteramys aerovenatrix) is notable for its aerial prowess, able to dive-bomb its prey at incredible force and speed. Easily one of the fastest flyers, the airstrike specializes on hunting smaller flying ratbats, knocking them from the sky with such power that they are instantly stunned or killed upon impact, which the airstrike then snatches up midair. They live and hunt in mated pairs, with the female the larger of the two, as the smaller male can take on smaller but more-agile aerial prey and thus reduce competition with his mate during the breeding season, when she needs far more calories than he does.

On the other hand, the ground pterrier (Terranyctocyon ambulus) is, conversely, a far more terrestrial species. While a perfectly capable flier, it instead greatly prefers to hunt on the ground, or in trees, chasing down squizzels, furbils, duskmice and small rattiles in grounded pursuit, before pouncing upon them to pin them with its wing-claws and dispatch them with a bite. Ground pterriers rarely take wing unless threatened or provoked, or when traveling longer distances to find new hunting grounds, mostly preferring to roam on foot while foraging.

While fierce acrobats in the air, falcyons, like many ratbats, are more vulnerable on the ground, and thus the reason even the more ground-dwelling ones are still capable at flight. They are at their most exposed during the time when they are nesting: as pterriers and their relatives build their nests on the ground in hidden dens concealed by overlying plants, where their young, not flighted until they are several months old, remain. One of the pterrier's relatives, the wounded bloodwing (Erythropteryx pseudosanguis), has developed a peculiar strategy to protect its young: females possess bright red marks on the dorsal surface of their wings, hidden when folded and walking. If a predator is in the vicinity of the nest, however, the mother bloodwing will make a display where she pretends to be injured, flashing the red mark on her wing and making distressed sounded cries and limping motions to create the illusion of an easy prey. This is all a ruse, however, to lead the threat far away from the nest, and once she reaches a save distance she drops the act and flies off, leaving the confused enemy in the dust.

Among the largest and fiercest of the Temperocene falcyons, however, is the skewering harpshrike (Phobocynonyctus crucifigere), with a wingspan of up to five-and-a-half feet. Native to arid desert or semidesert regions of South Ecatoria, this unique species is remarkable for being a larger-scale predator able to tackle small hamtelopes, podotheres and zingos on occasion, which it then stores away in a grisly fashion: a larder of thorny trees, with the impaled half-eaten, dried carcasses of small animals hanging from their branches. But perhaps its most unusual feature is its rather canine-like head bearing facial markings that, by coincidental convergence, came to eerily resemble those of the sapient calliducyons: earning the harpshrike a place in their folklore as "person-headed flying monsters" notorious for occasionally snatching up unwary pups who stray too far from their parents.

----------

[revacholianpizzaagenda]

Three days left to sign up for the 2025 runs of the beautiful amazing transcendent Elysium LARP!

When and where

The larp will have two runs (20-24 & 27-31 August 2025) in Terezín, Czech Republic (about an hour’s drive north of Prague) [there will be options for car-less people]. The event starts on Wednesday evening and ends on Saturday evening; players need to be on-site for the entire duration of the event.

Price

Standard ticket €360, 13 subsidised at €150, understudy (last-minute spots) €50. The price includes the full experience, key parts of the costume, food, and basic lodgings.

Practicalities

What: A Disco Elysium larp for 109 players.

When: 20-24 & 27-31 August 2025 (starting Wednesday evening, ending Saturday evening)

Where: Old Military Hospital, Terezín (Czech Republic)

Cost: €360 standard ticket, €150 subsidised, €50 understudy (last-minute spots)

Produced by: Rolling & and international crew

Language: English

Location: Old military hospital in the middle of the city. Indoors and outdoors environment. The venue has basic amenities (toilets, water, basic portable showers etc), but don’t expect high standards (no central heating). Hotel accommodation can be bought extra.

Accessibility: Venue not wheelchair friendly (no elevators, stairs) and very large. Dusty environment. Need to read long texts before the larp (30+ pages). Higher levels of activity during the event. Loud noises, strobing lights, and crowds may be present.

Time: Arrival mandatory on Wednesday evening. One day of pre-game activities, then game time. Dedicated 8 hours a night for sleep. End of game on Saturday evening, cleanup on Sunday. All players need to be present on site between Wednesday and Saturday evening to participate in the event.

Costumes & props: Key costume elements and key props will be provided. You bring a base layer, shoes, and any extra props you want. Think 70s-90s wacky style.

Food & drink: Scheduled breakfast, lunch, and dinner (served in-game). We will provide water, tea, and vegetarian food, with the whole menu available beforehand, allowing people to bring food to address their allergies and special needs.

Design

Potential content warnings: Racism, violence, physical larping, poverty, political extremism, loud noises, realistic firearms, drug use, oppression, suicide, dysfunctional family dynamics, real work.

Design & play style: Immersive experience grounded in a poetic world. Some scripted story points and more collaborative than competitive play. Pre-written characters and plots. Characters have secrets not transparently known to all players.

Sign-up process: Lottery system with certain conditions applied by organisers. Players will have the option to flag they are uncomfortable playing with somebody or think somebody is not safe to be at the event. When given a spot, players have some weeks to pay. Casting happens after spot assignments but before payment.

Co-creation: Pre-written characters. Given act structure with some limitations or mechanics; otherwise, players have the freedom to create. Players are not expected to prepare or create relations, have meetings, partake in events, etc., before the event – co-creation happens in pre-game activities on site. Lore is established by organisers. Players create art and make things at work during the game.

Physical & emotional safety: Opt-out techniques & safety techniques. Some themes apply to the whole larp and cannot be opted out of (for example, “poverty”). Medium-contact mechanisms for violence, symbolic mechanisms for physical intimacy. Dedicated organisers for safety and medical and emotional support. Calibration techniques will be workshopped.

What you will be doing: Playing out conflicts, romances, brawls, revealing secrets from the past, pursuing political goals, dealing with community problems. Creating art, music, weird performances, or just striving to have a normal, working family. Work is also part of the game. Most players will have 2-3 hours of some form of “work” to perform each day (making things, cleaning things…). Scheduled and spontaneous activities in the characters’ social groups (hobbies, families, politics, interest groups, etc.). Socialising, trading, scheming or just chilling and people-watching.

Sign up form

[gibsongirled]

hihihi !! its that dude that said boys suck (sigh) men

i was wondering ( since u wanted hcs ! ) if u could do a list/fic/whatever medium u want of playing baseball w/ schlatt? just saw 'schlatt's big day out' and im in luv even more :D

pref mlm or gn!reader if u dont mind?

ty ily <3

playing baseball headcanons !!

a/n: i don't play baseball, so i'm just basing this off random info i remember 🙏

date nights sometimes include going to batting cages !!

don't know how to play?

he'll definitely show you videos or just pull up a powerpoint presentation

or a more hands on approach

explains all the baseball terms

checks your position and tells you to bend your knees a bit more

teaches you how to swing and throw

wraps his arms around you so that you can properly swing the bat

“watch the ball, okay?”

would fake throw the ball at you to see your reaction tbh

he'll take you to see the yankees

tells you that it's important to playing baseball

maybe it is, who knows

if you're on the same level as him

bro gets COMPETITIVE

makes bets for chores and other house related stuff

“loser has to clean the kitchen next week”

“you're so fuckin' on”

will definitely make it a weekly activity

loves being able to play his favorite sport with you :3

even if you know how to play it or not

he just loves hanging out with you

[konansock]

Additional Bucket List Goals: Skills

Life and Death came with an intricate system called Soul's Journey, which is a great design and covered a lot of aspects of life-time goals. However, several goals are missing, and therefore this mod is created.

Features:

This mod adds 13 missing Skills to the Bucket List Goals. The skills and there corresponding goals are:

【Creative Goals】

Flower Arrangement: Reach Level 10, craft a Masterpiece Flower Arrangement, and Declare it Life’s Most Blooming Creation.

Herbalism: Reach Level 10, bring a high-quality herbal remedy to the hermit, and ask, "Who’s the Best Herbalist?"

Nectar Making: Reach Level 5, age a high-quality nectar to perfection, then travel to Chestnut Ridge and find the mysterious old man to Ask if Nectar is Good.

Gemology: Reach Level 10, craft a Masterpiece Jewelry, and Crown as the Gem of a Lifetime.

Juice Fizzing: Reach Level 5, craft a Masterpiece Fizzy Juice or Kombucha, and Toast it as Fizz-nomenal Creation.

【Success Goals】

Programming: Reach Level 10, hack into the highest level/make a game or app, or take on a career as an engineer or tech guru.

Pipe Organ: Reach Level 10, and perform haunting music in a cemetery.

Archaeology: Reach Level 10, and authenticate an artifact.

Horse Riding: Reach Level 10, and win a horse competition.

Veterinarian: Reach Level 10, and successfully treat a pet.

Mischief: Reach Level 10, bind a Voodoo Doll to a Sim, and toss it into a bonfire.

【Adventure Goals】

Medium: Reach Level 5, and either befriend, fight, or woohoo with Bonehilda.

【Travel Goals】

Selvadoradian Culture: Reach Level 5, and dance the Rumbasim in the jungle.

DOWNLOAD HERE

[katanadepapel]

MY TURN 🤗!!!!

OUR DESIGNER 2/2

MY S/I IN WILD KRATTS UNIVERSE!

I like green, blue, black, orange and especially purple (but the spots were already filled 😔)

So I decided to put one of the other colors I like on my s/I, turquoise! And there it is!

Bio of my S/I:

•Name: Samara Barros

•Nickname: Sammy, S2, Redhead, lime orange.

•Age: 24 years old

• Sex: Female

•Date of birth: 01/09

•Nationality: Brazil/RJ

•Sign: Virgo

•Signature color: Indigo, Turquoise or Violet

•Eye color: Medium brown

•Skin color: Fair

•Hair color: Copper

•Relatives:

Sara (older sister)

•Friends:

Chris Kratt 💚

Martin Kratt

Jimmy Z

Aviva Corcovado (BFF)

Noah Tyer

Koki

Paisley Paviment

•Appearance:

Samara is a young woman with short pixie style hair; She is thin but average, even though she is a little taller than her sister.

•Personality:

Samara is lively, funny, has a huge taste for adventure and a thirst for new challenging experiences; She is competitive, intelligent but she is also calm, until her calm ends, because she knows how to give a beating to the person who mainly messes with her sister, but also, 50% of the cases, Sammy is emotionally cold.

•Occupation: Reptile zoologist, interior design, architect and landscaper.

•Likes: Chris Kratt 🤭, animals, reptiles, her tortoise, draw, art, math, science, calculate, help Aviva with technologies, keep everything tidy, plants, flowers, purple and chocolate with lemon.

•Dislikes: Soft foods, dirt, Zach Varmitech, the villains, mistreating animals, people and plants

*Sammy is autism (mild level)

*Sammy, like your sister, she speaks Brazilian Portuguese, her native language, in English, Spanish and German fluently

[thewertsearch]

Ooh, I'm loving this visual style. It feels even more Earthbound than when Karkat did it.

Anyway - whacha got for us, Vriska?

JOHN: for what? you mean… JOHN: that windy thing? did i actually do that somehow? VRISKA: Well, yes, you did. And I suppose congratul8tions are in order for that too. VRISKA: 8ut mostly, I am congratul8ting you…….. VRISKA: FOR GAINING ALL THE LEVELS!!!!!!!! ::::O

The Heir has tripped over the level cap, and can now accidentally cause a planetary cataclysm. Our protagonist, everyone!

However, it seems like he still has some more tripping to do. Some sort of bonus levelling system, I guess?

VRISKA: Yes. You are now ready to 8egin your ascent through the god tiers.

Apparently so.

This is probably why Future Dave considers him so uniquely accomplished. John's going to unlock a tier of power usually reserved for munchkins like Vriska - a tier which only the most competitive Players are even aware of.

VRISKA: The thing is, from this point on, you can't make any progress while you're awake. So you've got to get to sleep!

Sounds like the god tiers are only achievable with your Dream Self.

Rose's sacrificial plan will permanently lock her out of her full potential. Is she aware of this?

VRISKA: 8ut not just any 8oring old nap will do. You will need to go to sleep in a special 8ed. VRISKA: You must find your Quest 8ed, John.

A special bed, which presumably has some effect on the game's dreaming mechanics. Perhaps there's an area of the Medium we haven't seen yet - a third dream location, imperceptible from anywhere but the Quest Bed.

[trophy-girl]

How Your Environment Shapes Your Dating life

Knowing whether you’re dating in a low-income versus high-income environment comes down to the behaviors, expectations, and dynamics surrounding money, lifestyle, and opportunities in the dating scene. Here are key differences to help you assess where you’re dating

💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐

Low dating pool

Environment

Imagine living in a small, rural town where everyone knows everyone. People tend to date people they’ve known for years—your neighbor, a childhood friend, or someone from church. There’s little room for new connections outside the tight-knit community.

Real-Life Example

Casey lives in a small town in the Midwest. She meets Ryan at a local bar where everyone knows each other. Their first date is a cheap dinner at a local diner followed by a walk by the lake. Their relationship is grounded in shared experiences talking about life in a small town, their family, and the same struggles they face financially. Money isn’t something they talk about too much, but both understand that paying bills and making ends meet is the priority. They split costs evenly, with dates usually involving low-cost activities like going to a community fair or watching movies at home.

Expectations

• Emotional connection over materialism. It’s more about building a life together than impressing each other.

• Financial challenges are understood and shared. There’s no pressure to “live large.”

• Dates are simple and inexpensive.

Financial Requirements

• Low expectations—they might take turns paying for dinner or simply meet in places where money isn’t an issue. No fancy gifts or extravagant nights out.

🦋🌸🦋🌸 🦋🌸🦋🌸 🦋🌸🦋🌸 🦋🌸🦋🌸

Mid-Level Dating Pool

Environment Living in a suburban area or a medium-sized city means you have a broader dating pool. People you meet might have similar values, but there’s still a balance between emotional connection and financial stability. Dates can range from casual outings to weekend trips.

Real-Life Example

Ava lives in a bustling suburban city with a good mix of young professionals. She meets Ben at a coffee shop where they both regularly go to work on their side projects. Their first date is dinner at a local bistro, followed by a trip to an art exhibit. They both work in different industries but align in terms of career ambition and hobbies. While Ava enjoys her freelance career, Ben has a stable 9-5 job, and they both appreciate a lifestyle that’s comfortable, but not extravagant. They tend to split costs based on income, but no one feels burdened by the financial side of things.

Expectations

•Balance of lifestyle and emotional connection. Both want someone who is financially responsible but understands the importance of personal connection.

• Less emphasis on status, more on compatibility.

• Dates are fun but not too costly. Think casual dining, weekend trips, or local events.

Financial Requirements

• Moderate expectations. Both want a partner who is financially stable, able to contribute equally to shared costs, and doesn’t expect to live a lavish lifestyle but can afford some nice things.

High Dating Pool

Environment In an affluent city or high-status social circles, the dating pool tends to be larger, but also more competitive. Here, wealth, career success, and social status often play a key role in forming connections.

Real-Life Example

Samantha works as a financial consultant in New York City and meets Ethan, a tech entrepreneur, at a high-profile networking event. Their first date is a private dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant, followed by a weekend getaway to the Hamptons. The relationship revolves around shared ambition, career success, and high-society events. Ethan pays for most of their dates, as he enjoys the lifestyle his wealth affords. However, they both agree that their financial stability is essential to their long-term plans, and they are looking for partners who can keep up with their fast-paced, high-achieving lives.

Expectations

• Shared ambition and financial success. Partners are looking for someone who is equally successful, ambitious, and independent.

• High-status connections matter. Your partner’s career, social connections, and lifestyle are just as important as emotional compatibility.

• Extravagant dates and luxurious experiences. Dates often include expensive dinners, vacations, or private events.

Financial Requirements

• High expectations for financial independence. Both partners expect to be able to sustain a luxurious lifestyle. There’s no need to “split” costs in the traditional sense—dates are assumed to be covered by the person who is more financially capable, but the understanding is that both partners contribute in their own way

Dating pools aren’t just about who you meet—they reflect your lifestyle, values, and expectations. Whether you’re looking for deep emotional connection or someone who shares your high-status career goals, knowing your dating pool can help you make the right choice.